After Black, White or Yellow Fungus – Aspergillosis is the new fungal infection reported in Covid-19 patients in India

Aspergillosis, according to CDC, is an infection caused by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that is commonly found indoors and outdoors

Covid-19 pandemic has increased the vocabulary of Indians, introducing newer diseases and symptoms. Indians were in the process of accepting Mucormycosis or Black Fungus, White Fungus – which had created major complications in a patient’s intestines; and Yellow Fungus which usually was found in reptiles, but reports of a new fungal infection has started to come in from Gujarat – Aspergillosis.

This new fungal infection called Aspergillosis has been reported in Vadodara. A total of 8 cases of the infection have been reported till date.

Aspergillosis, according to CDC, is an infection caused by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that is commonly found indoors and outdoors. Most among us breathe spores of this mold every day without getting sick. However, those among us, who have reduced immunity or lung diseases are found to be at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus.

On the question of the disease being contagious experts say, Aspergillosis cannot spread between people or between people and animals.

When enquired on the line of treatment for the disease – doctors say Antifungal drugs like Itraconazole and Voriconazole have shown great results. People with severe cases of aspergillosis may need surgery.

Types of health problems caused by Aspergillus include allergic reactions, lung infections, and infections in other organs.

There are four types of Aspergillosis infection. They are -

1. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) - causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. People with asthma or other lung problems like cystic fibrosis are more likely to get ABPA.

2. Invasive Aspergillosis - People with weakened immune systems like cancer patients and AIDS patients are more likely to get invasive aspergillosis. This infection is dangerous as it can invade your lung tissues and spread to your kidneys or brain. If invasive aspergillosis goes untreated, it can lead to infectious pneumonia.

3. Aspergilloma - People with tuberculosis or other lung disease are more likely to get infected with Aspergilloma. In this type of infection, exposure to the fungus can cause you to develop a fungus growth called a fungus ball. The fungal ball consists of fungus, clots, and white blood cells and can grow and damage your lung tissues. Fungal ball however does not infect other body organs.

4. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis - People with lung diseases, such as tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or sarcoidosis are at risk of catching Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. This fungal infection can severely damage lungs.

Different types of aspergillosis can cause different symptoms in patients, like:

1. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)

a. Wheezing

b. Shortness of breath

c. Cough

d. Fever (in rare cases)

2. Invasive aspergillosis

a. Fever

b. Chest pain

c. Cough

d. Coughing up blood

e. Shortness of breath

3. Aspergilloma (fungus ball)

a. Cough

b. Coughing up blood

c. Shortness of breath

4. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

a. Weight loss

b. Cough

c. Coughing up blood

d. Fatigue

e. Shortness of breath